adminJOHANNESBURG. — The South African Football Association and the Premier Soccer League yesterday congratulated Orlando Pirates on their qualification for the Caf Champions League final, after their 1-1 draw against Esperance, in Tunisia, on Saturday night.Orlando Pirates reached the African Champions League final 18 years after their only previous appearance, thanks to a 1-1 draw at Esperance of Tunisia on Saturday that saw them advance on the away goals rule.
Pirates won the competition in 1995 in the only success for a South African club in Africa’s top club competition.
“As the South African Football Association, we would like to congratulate Orlando Pirates for a magnificent achievement in the Caf Champions League semi-final clash against Esperance,” Safa president Danny Jordaan said in a statement yesterday.
“We would like to say to the players and the technical team: ‘your feat in Tunisia was of heroic proportions. You have made the whole country proud with your guts, determination and resilience.”
Orlando Pirates coach Roger de Sa has also thanked South Africa for the support following their Caf Champions League semi-final triumph on Saturday night.
De Sa thanked his players and staff for their hard work in what has been a gruelling route to the final, and vowed to continue giving their best as they look to clinch the crown.
“My boys and staff have been outstanding,” De Sa said. “Thanks for all the support South Africa. We will continue to try our best.”
Former Orlando Pirates striker Jerry “Legs of Thunder” Sikhosana believes the team’s spirit among the players is what has seen them through to the 2013 CAF Champions League final.
Sikhosana scored the only goal in 1995 which saw Bucs lift the Champions League for the first time, and said that they need to be sharp in front of goal in the showpiece match.
The former Bucs forward believes that if the side can score half of the chances they create, they can easily win games.
“The team spirit is very good. They play as a team which is very important in these games. One thing though, which they need to improve on, is goal scoring. They create clear cut chances, move into good spaces but the finishing is not very good,” he said.
“They should punish their opponents when they have the chances to do so. Otherwise they stand a good chance of bringing back the glory days in the Champions League and win the trophy this year. They have shown how serious they are in wanting to emulate the 1995 class,” the Tembisa-based legend expressed.
Pirates secured their passage to the final on the away-goal rule after holding the Tunisians to a goalless draw at the Orlando Stadium a fortnight ago.
The Soweto giants will face the winner of yesterday’s other semi-final clash — between Al Alhy of Egypt and Coton Sport of Cameroon — in a two-legged Caf Champions League final next month.
“This is a proud moment for the Premier Soccer League when one of its members achieves such a milestone,” PSL CEO Brand de Villiers said.
“We would like to congratulate Orlando Pirates’ management, technical staff and players for reaching the finals of the Champions League and I would also like to invite the football family in the country to join me as we wish them the best of luck when they play in the Caf Champions League final.”
Orlando Pirates advanced to the final of the Caf Champions League after holding Esperance to a 1-1 draw at the Olympic Stadium in Rades on Saturday night.
After a goalless draw in the first leg in Soweto a fortnight ago, the 1-1 draw on the night and on aggregate sees the Buccaneers advance on away goals. Rooi Mahamutsa scored the crucial goal early in the second half for the South African side.
Esperance settled quickly and dominated the opening minutes of the match, pinning Pirates back in their own half and enjoying the majority of possession. Yet Bucs gradually got a foothold in the game and threatened with their athleticism and speed on the counter attack.
On 18 minutes the visitors’ pace sliced open Esperance’s defence and sent Tlou Segolela through on goal, but the winger opted for a difficult pass to Lennox Bacela rather than shooting himself, and the chance quickly evaporated.
On 29 minutes Segolela almost caught out goalkeeper Moez Ben Cherifa with a cross-shot to the near post that forced the Esperance No 1 to palm the ball away for a corner kick.
Two minutes later Senzo Meyiwa got lucky at the other end, as he only half-stopped an awkward long range shot from Houcine Ragued — the ball looped up and bounced off the top of the crossbar for a corner kick.
Shortly thereafter he was called upon to make another tricky stop, initially fumbling a shot from a free kick but recovering in time to prevent Harrison Afful from having a tap-in.
Pirates started the second half strongly and only an amazing save from Ben Cherifa stopped Daine Klate heading home Segolela’s cross in the 49th minute. — Supersport.com.
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